SPIDER'S WEB (PLAY)

Written by Agatha Christie

Directed by Ylaria Rogers

Canberra REP production

Canberra REP Theatre, Acton to 9 August

 

Reviewed by Len Power 25 July 2025

 

Once again, you’re unlikely to guess the killer in this Agatha Christie murder mystery.  The Queen of Crime cleverly leads you through an intricate plot involving hidden doorways, true and false confessions, a butler and a gardener, the Ace of Hearts and invisible ink.

As well as her many famous novels and stories, Christie wrote a number of plays for the theatre. Spider’s Web, an original play, was written in 1953 at a peak in her play-writing period. Two other plays written by her, The Mousetrap and Witness For The Prosecution, were still running when this one opened in 1954 in London’s West End. It ran for 774 performances.

When Clarissa, the wife of a diplomat, finds a dead body in her drawing room, she needs to hide the body before her husband arrives home with an important politician. Enlisting the help of some guests, she soon finds herself caught up in an increasingly tangled web of deceit with the unexpected arrival of a detective, Inspector Lord. Even when she confesses how and why she hid the body, she finds that the police don’t believe her.

Christie’s play provides both suspense and humour as this early 1950s plot unfolds. Much of the humour comes from the eccentricities and reactions of the characters involved. As Clarissa, Siân Harrington is very amusing as the perfect hostess who descends into nervous panic as the plot tightens around her.

Siân Harrington (Clarissa) and Nathan McKenna (Henry)

There is good work, too, from Terry Johnson as the Alfred Hitchcock-like Sir Rowland, Adele Lewin as Mildred Peake, the garrulous gardener, David Bennett as the stuffy butler, Elgin, Manasa Kannan as the young daughter, Pippa, Leo Amadeus as Inspector Lord and the rest of the large cast.

Cast members of 'Spider's Web'

On the vast and cosily decorated drawing room set designed by Sarea Coates, director, Ylaria Rogers, moves the action along swiftly, bringing out the humour in the plot very well while ensuring the many characters are played with skill and depth.

Audiences enjoy trying to solve an intricate murder mystery and will have fun trying with this one!

 

Photos by Cathy Breen

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 26 July 2025.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.